Cognitive Performance In Elderly People Research Articles

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED TO LOWER PREVALENCE OFDEMENTIA IN BRAZILIAN OLDER ADULTS

AbstractBackgroundEvidences indicate that physically active older individuals maintain healthy functioning longer than do sedentary peers. Some lifestyle could impact the risk of dementia including Alzheimer’s. In spite of this, the effect of physical activity on the relationship between age and the risk of dementia is unknown. This is a two‐phase study that aims to investigate the association of physical exercise and age with the prevalence of dementia in community older adults, from Ribeirao Preto city, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.MethodCross‐sectional study of a randomized community‐based sample of 928 elderly subjects aged 60 years or older was performed. Standardized instruments for screening dementia and a socio‐economic questionnaire were applied to the subjects at home in phase I. The dementia diagnose was made at hospital in phase II, according to DSM‐V criteria.ResultOveral Dementia was 6.0%. Alzheimer’s disease was the most frequent dementia (2.8%), followed by Vascular dementia (1.3%), and Mixed dementia (1.1%). Initial multivariate analysis showed sociodemographic factors associated to dementia. After adjusting for all the variables, multivariate analysis showed an association with age group ≥80 (OR = 6.7; p<0.001); household chores (OR = 2.7; p = 0.004); no employment (OR = 4.3; p<0.001); and stroke (OR = 4.5; p = 0.001). There was no association with gender, socioeconomic class, educational level, and alcohol use. Secondary analysis showed an inverse relationship between physical activity and age (OR = 0.4; p<0.001). After deliberately exclude age, the final model showed a significant association between higher rates of dementia and lack of physical activity (OR = 2.0; p = 0.024).ConclusionAccording to previous studies, in our sample, lack of exercise was associated with two fold higher risk of dementia, only after exclude age of the analysis. This result could be due to decreasing level of physical activity found in the oldest subjects. We suggest that relatively simple lifestyle changes such as increasing the practice of exercise could enhance cognitive performance in elderly people. Future investigations are needed to clarify the real impact of physical activity on the relationship between dementia and age.

Cognitive Alterations in Elderly Patients with Heart Failure’

Background: Among the various pathologies that affect the elderly, Heart Failure (HF) stands out. Recently, an attempt has been made to verify the existence of cognitive impairment associated with HF. Objectives: To compare the cognitive performance of elderly people with heart failure with that of age-matched individuals without this pathology. Check the existence of marked impairment in some cognitive functions in the clinical group. Methods: The sample consisted of 78 elderly people, whose inclusion criterion was the presence of [...]

The Effects of 12 Weeks Pilates Exercises on Functional and Cognitive Performance in Elderly People

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of 12 weeks Pilates exercises on functional and cognitive performance in elderly people which are living in an elderly care center. Forty three elderly were randomly allocated either to Pilates group (PG, n= 21; mean age, 72.8 ± 7.84 years), which performed three session of Pilates per week for 12 weeks, or to control group (CG, n= 22; mean age, 77.7 ± 7.25 years), which no performed any exercise is except from daily works. Participants tested to handgrip strength, Berg balance scale, Functional reach test and Mini Mental State Examination Test before and after the 12 weeks of exercise. Finally, PG demonstrated improvement in all variables. However, CG has no improvement any variables. Pilates exercises led to significant improvement in functional and cognitive performance. Therefore, elderly people can apply a well-structured Pilates exercise program under Pilates instructor and physiotherapist.

Frailty and cognitive performance of elderly people in outpatient care

Objetivo: investigar a associação entre a síndrome da fragilidade e desempenho cognitivo de idosos em atendimento ambulatorial.

Hydration and cognitive performance in elderly people.

Introduction: The importance of a suitable hydration has been widely studied and is considered an indispensable factor in the maintenance of a good health. In older adults, there is a predisposition to dehydration due to several physiological factors of age and other social factors. Dehydration makes them more vulnerable to various diseases, being even a cause of death. Method: The current work gathers information of a succinct bibliographical review on the hydration level of the Spanish elderly population as well as diverse studies that indicate a relation between hydration and cognitive health in the older person. Results: In Spain, some studies and sociological surveys show an inadequate hydration in older persons, which increases the risk of dehydration and therefore the suffering of disease, hospital admittance and death. Conclusion: A suitable hydration might improve the condition and cognitive performance of this population and prevent or delay dementia or Alzheimer’s. Most studies indicate a theoretical benefit in cognitive performance associated with the maintenance of a suitable hydration in this population, but there is no proven scientific evidence that shows this benefit. Further research that allows to link the above mentioned association as well as a greater intervention of the agents involved in the maintenance and care of the health of this population to prevent dehydration is necessary.

Results of 2-year vitamin B treatment on cognitive performance: secondary data from an RCT.

We investigated the effects of 2-year folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation on cognitive performance in elderly people with elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels. This multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial included 2,919 elderly participants (65 years and older) with Hcy levels between 12 and 50 µmol/L. Participants received daily either a tablet with 400 µg folic acid and 500 µg vitamin B12 (B-vitamin group) or a placebo tablet. Both tablets contained 15 µg vitamin D3. Data were available for global cognitive functioning assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (n = 2,556), episodic memory (n = 2,467), attention and working memory (n = 759), information processing speed (n = 731), and executive function (n = 721). Mean age was 74.1 (SD 6.5) years. Hcy concentrations decreased 5.0 (95% confidence interval -5.3 to -4.7) µmol/L in the B-vitamin group and 1.3 (-1.6 to -0.9) µmol/L in the placebo group. Cognitive domain scores did not differ over time between the 2 groups, as determined by analysis of covariance. Mini-Mental State Examination score decreased with 0.1 (-0.2 to 0.0) in the B-vitamin group and 0.3 (-0.4 to -0.2) in the placebo group (p = 0.05), as determined by an independent t test. Two-year folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation did not beneficially affect performance on 4 cognitive domains in elderly people with elevated Hcy levels. It may slightly slow the rate of decline of global cognition, but the reported small difference may be attributable to chance. This study provides Class I evidence that 2-year supplementation with folic acid and vitamin B12 in hyperhomocysteinemic elderly people does not affect cognitive performance.

Cognitive and physical training for the elderly: Evaluating outcome efficacy by means of neurophysiological synchronization

Recent neuroscientific research has demonstrated that both healthy and pathological aging induces alterations in the co-operative capacity of neuronal populations in the brain. Both compensatory and neurodegenerative mechanisms contribute to neurophysiological synchronization patterns, which provide a valuable marker for age-related cognitive decline. In this study, we propose that neuroplasticity-based training may facilitate coherent interaction of distant brain regions and consequently enhance cognitive performance in elderly people. If this is true, this would make neurophysiological synchronization a valid outcome measure to assess the efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions to prevent or delay age-related cognitive decline. The present study aims at providing an objective, synchronization-based tool to assess cognitive and/or physical interventions, adopting the notion of Relative Wavelet Entropy. This mathematical model employs a robust and parameter-free synchronization metric. By using data mining techniques, a distance value was computed for all participants so as to quantify the proximity of their individual profile to the mean group synchronization increase. In support of our hypothesis, results showed a significant increase in synchronization, for four electrode pairs, in the intervention group as compared to the active control group. It is concluded that the novel introduction of neurophysiological synchronization features could be used as a valid and reliable outcome measure; while the distance-based analysis could provide a reliable means of evaluating individual benefits.

Interactions between plasma concentrations of folate and markers of vitamin B12status with cognitive performance in elderly people not exposed to folic acid fortification: the Hordaland Health Study

A combination of high folate with low vitamin B12 plasma status has been associated with cognitive impairment in a population exposed to mandatory folic acid fortification. The objective of the present study was to examine the interactions between plasma concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 markers in relation to cognitive performance in Norwegian elderly who were unexposed to mandatory or voluntary folic acid fortification. Cognitive performance was assessed by six cognitive tests in 2203 individuals aged 72-74 years. A combined score was calculated using principal component analysis. The associations of folate concentrations, vitamin B12 markers (total vitamin B12, holotranscobalamin (holoTC) and methylmalonic acid (MMA)) and their interactions in relation to cognitive performance were evaluated by quantile regression and least-squares regression, adjusted for sex, education, apo-ɛ4 genotype, history of CVD/hypertension and creatinine. Cross-sectional analyses revealed an interaction (P=0·009) between plasma concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 in relation to cognitive performance. Plasma vitamin B12 concentrations in the lowest quartile (<274pmol/l) combined with plasma folate concentrations in the highest quartile (>18·5nmol/l) were associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment compared with plasma concentrations in the middle quartiles of both vitamins (OR 0·22, 95% CI 0·05, 0·92). The interaction between folate and holoTC or MMA in relation to cognitive performance was not significant. In conclusion, this large study population unexposed to mandatory folic acid fortification showed that plasma folate, but not plasma vitamin B12, was associated with cognitive performance. Among the elderly participants with vitamin B12 concentrations in the lower range, the association between plasma folate and cognitive performance was strongest.

A Clinical Review of the Association of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and Cognitive Impairment

Clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism as well as overt hyperthyroidism in middle-aged and elderly adults are both associated with decreased cognitive functioning as memory, reaction time, and visuospatial organization. Subclinical hyperthyroidism (SH) or low serum concentrations of TSH concentrations have been associated with dementia in previous epidemiological studies, but the association in the elderly has not been established. There is little or no consensus regarding how thyroid function is associated with cognitive performance in the elderly. In this focused review, we have performed an examination between eleven studies from the last five years examining the association between thyroid function and cognitive performance in elderly people, a group who is overrepresented among individuals with minor abnormalities in serum TSH and thyroid hormone concentration. Six of the studies showed a consistent finding of an association between SH with cognitive impairment or dementia. In general, taking into account the largest and most powerfully designed studies, there is a strong body of evidence supporting the association between SH and cognitive impairment. The scarce number of publications on these topics indicates the need of more research especially regarding longitudinal and interventional studies thus hopefully enabling confirmation or rejection of causality between TSH abnormalities and dementia.

Six-year prospective evaluation of cognitive performance in elderly people with bipolar disorder

Six-year prospective evaluation of cognitive performance in elderly people with bipolar disorder

Características sociodemográficas, capacidade funcional e morbidades entre idosos com e sem declínio cognitivo

OBJETIVO: Descrever as características sociodemográficas, funcionais e clínicas dos idosos com e sem declínio cognitivo residentes na zona urbana de Uberaba-MG. MÉTODOS: Estudo tipo inquérito domiciliar realizado com 2.898 idosos. Foram constituídos dois grupos: grupo 1, idosos com pontuação menor que 13 no Miniexame do Estado Mental e grupo 2 com 13 pontos ou mais nesse exame. Os dados coletados, por meio de instrumento semiestruturado, foram submetidos à análise descritiva e ao teste Qui-quadrado (p&lt;0,05). RESULTADOS: No grupo 1, prevaleceu idosos com 80 anos ou mais; sem ocupação e escolaridade, com hipertensão arterial e seis ou mais incapacidades funcionais. No grupo 2, a maioria possuía 60 a 70 anos; exercia atividades no lar; quatro a oito anos de estudo, hipertensão arterial e uma incapacidade funcional. Os grupos diferiram significativamente quanto: à faixa etária, escolaridade, atividade profissional, número de doenças e incapacidade funcional. CONCLUSÃO: Este trabalho contribuiu com estudos que enfatizam os diversos fatores que podem interferir no desempenho cognitivo do idoso.

Visual cognitive performance of elderly people: effects on reading time of age, character size and visual distance

In this study, we conducted two experiments on visual cognitive performance in reading an on-board information device. Experiment 1: The relation between the gazing time needed for reading and the number of Kanji characters displayed was investigated, as the number of characters was changed in three steps. The gazing time was divided into preparation time and information processing time. The unit information processing speed was calculated from the amount of information read divided by the information processing time. Experiment 2: The character size was changed between three conditions (large, middle and small), and visual distance was changed between two conditions (700 and 2000 mm). The gazing time was similar to that in experiment 1. The results from these experiments are applicable to the design of user-friendly information devices, taking into account the user's age.

Creatine Supplementation and Cognitive Performance in Elderly Individuals

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of creatine supplementation on the cognitive performance of elderly people. Participants were divided into two groups, which were tested on random number generation, forward and backward number and spatial recall, and long-term memory tasks to establish a baseline level. Group 1 (n = 15) were given 5 g four times a day of placebo for 1 week, followed by the same dosage of creatine for the second week. Group 2 (n = 17) were given placebo both weeks. Participants were retested at the end of each week. Results showed a significant effect of creatine supplementation on all tasks except backward number recall. It was concluded that creatine supplementation aids cognition in the elderly.

Cognitive Function in Elderly People Is Influenced by Vitamin E Status

The aim of this study was to examine associations between vitamin E status and cognitive performance in elderly people. The study subjects were a group of 34 men and 86 women, aged 65-91 y, who were free of significant cognitive impairment. Dietary intake was monitored using a "weighed food record" for 5 consecutive days including a Sunday. Serum levels of alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol were determined by HPLC and colorimetric methods, respectively. The cognitive capacity of subjects was tested using the Pfeiffer's Mental Status Questionnaire (PMSQ). Subjects with vitamin E intakes lower than 50% of those recommended had higher PMSQ scores, demonstrating a greater number of errors in comparison to participants with a greater intake of the vitamin (0.91 +/- 1.22 vs. 0.47 +/- 0.60, respectively, P < 0.05). Subjects who made no errors in the PMSQ test had significantly higher serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations (19.7 +/- 8.6 micromol/L in men and 20.0 +/- 8.4 micromol/L in women) and alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol ratios (3.5 +/- 2.0 micromol/mmol in men 2.9 +/- 1.4 micromol/mmol in women) compared with those who made errors (alpha-tocopherol 15.1 +/- 5.6 micromol/L in men and 14.9 +/- 6.1 micromol/L in women; alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol ratio 2.4 +/- 0.8 and 2.3 +/- 1.3 micromol/mmol in men and women, respectively). This study shows there to be a relationship between vitamin E status and cognitive function, and that vitamin E status could be improved in this population of elderly individuals.

Polymorphism at codon 129 of the prion protein gene is not associated with sporadic AD.

An association between cognitive performance in elderly people and variability in the codon 129 of the prion protein gene (PRNP) has been recently described. The authors analyzed this polymorphism in 278 sporadic AD patients and 268 cognitively normal control subjects. Analyses stratifying by APOE genotype, age, and gender failed to reveal any association between homozygosity for the 129 PRNP methionine or valine alleles and AD.